The Sky Looks Different. Reizuki // Buddy Daddies

Part Two: 'As it is.'

It's been two weeks since that assignment. Kazuki enters his apartment to find Miri napping on the floor, a pillow under her head, holding on to a small plush doll. Despite the lack of bedding she seems more than comfortable with it. He checks his watch, "9:47 PM..." he lets out with a sigh.

"Rei?" He calls out after a bit.

He didn't expect to be home this late, he can't take many missions with his shoulder still healing. He's mostly done house work, though today he had a meeting with the other parents from Miri's daycare and had to pick up supplies and groceries from the supermarket. He was going to be in time to make dinner but he got held up at check out. Traffic wasn't giving him an easy time either.

He sighs again, "Rei, I'm home."

The lack of a reply warrents assumption, perhaps he fell asleep early?

'That's awfully unlike him...'

He thinks nervously. Unable to let his mind rest, he decides to check his friend's room. He enters the room, the bed isn't made and it's far from being a tidy space. He isn't taken a back by this, though he's irritated it isn't any nicer. He reaches for the bathroom door, a soft click of the knob as he turns it. He can't see too well, it's rather dark, even for Rei's vision. He catches the end of clothing from his peripheral vision. He steps in closer and leans over the edge of the bathtub.

'What on earth are you doing?' He thinks while a judgemental glare forms.

Rei is sleeping soundly in the tub, even as he sleeps he looks like hasn't been able to for months on end. The bathroom isn't insolated very well, infact Kazuki feels himself catch a slight shiver. He goes back to the messy room and pulls up a dark blue blanket and brings it back in his hand.

'If this is how he's been sleeping, no wonder he looks like that..' a slight snicker escapes.

He places the blanket over the dishevelled looking guy under him, "You're sucn a mess..." he whispers.

The soft smile erases from his face. His own gaze lingers on his partner this time, Rei's expression is unreadable, though he seems at ease. It's rare to see him this way, he may have never seen him like this at all, and maybe he won't again. His unkept hair is loose around his face, there isn't a shadow to cover it, not at all.  Kazuki leans in a bit, he almost appriciated the way he looked.

Eventually Kazuki's heart skips a beat, remidning him he's getting caught up in it all again. The same feeling of embarrasment washed over his body as it did on their last assignment together. He quickly turns on the heel of his foot, not bothering to spend a second longer looking at him.

When he finally falls on to his own bed, he can't relax.

'I feel like I'm on fire, this is ridiculous.' Sweat trickles down to his chin, Kazuki's left tossing and turning for what could have been hours.

'Oh crap.'

The following day Rei finds himself wrapped kindly in his blanket, he doesn't recall taking it with him to bed but he isn't much bothered by the thought. He slept rather well, it may have contributed something to him after all. Once again he's left dragging himself from the solidarity of his bathroom. He doesn't hear the sound of laughs or the loud clammering in the kitchen, weird for how things have been lately.

Miri is still fast asleep on the space next to the TV in the living room,

'Did Kazuki come back?'

Before they had to take care of this girl, it had been more than once Kazuki would sleep at hotels, maybe in company. At the time, it never really affected Rei's relationship with him. They'd always had some level of professional respect for one another's personal lives, though that line has been blurred for the past few months. After all they have a daughter now, and she's made a large difference even if it was unintended.